Chris Standring - Wonderful World (September 2021)

RENOWNED CONTEMPORARY GUITARIST/COMPOSER CHRIS STANDRING

RECORDSWITH JAZZ LEGENDS AT FAMED ABBEY ROAD STUDIOS

FORHIS FIRST LARGE ENSEMBLE STANDARDS ALBUM

WONDERFUL WORLD

Guitarist, composer, and arranger CHRIS STANDRING is one of the most prolific and successful artists on the contemporary urban jazz scene. With 13 Billboard Top 10 singles and 6 singles that reached number one on the chart, Jazz Monthly has said of Standring, “One of contemporary jazz’s most dynamic and in-demand guitarists, Standring’s sensual chill, ambient soul and retro-groove pop jazz is fashioned around his trademark hip-swaying guitar.”

Now, with WONDERFUL WORLD, his 14th release as a leader, he is once again pushing the envelope of taste and style with a project that is wholly different from anything he has done before.

Standring is a native of England. He was born and raised on a farm in the rural countryside of Buckinghamshire, where he spent his childhood driving tractors and feeding sheep. Music has been the nearly all-consuming focus of his life since he was 6 years old and began studying classical guitar. Although he had been listening to a lot of West Coast American jazz growing up, he did not become a serious jazz musician until he attended the London College of Music, where he met many aspiring jazz musicians, many of whom were members of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra and hard-core, straight-ahead aficionados. Standring soon found himself listening to the great bebop players and learning new approaches to harmony and rhythm.

Although London has a vibrant jazz scene, the U.S. is still a mecca for world class jazz artists. Standring had visited the States several times and loved the West Coast vibe, so he moved to Los Angeles in 1991 and quickly became part of the local jazz scene. Playing the top L.A. venues with A-list musicians, it did not take long until he caught the attention of many top music acts, and his contemporary guitar sound can be heard on recordings by Bebe and Cece Winans, Jody Watley, Carole Bayer Sager and Rick Braun. He has also performed with Marc Antoine, Patti Austin, Bob James, Dave Koz, Richard Elliott, Boney James, Peter White, Kirk Whalum, and Al Stewart.

Standring landed a record deal with Instinct Records, a label out of New York City, and in 1998, produced Velvet, his first album as a leader. He produced a new album for a variety of labels every year or two thereafter, writing or co-writing every one of the 100+ compositions. When asked how he could be so prolific, he responds, “I’m very disciplined about my writing. I’m not married and don’t have any children, because I have been so intensely focused on my music and don’t want any distractions. I write pretty much every day and need silence and time for reflection. Although I listen to a wide range of music styles to spark my creativity, I would have to say that just 1% of my output is from inspiration and 99% is from dedication to my craft.”

For WONDERFUL WORLD, Standring wanted to take his art in a different direction. Unlike all his other projects, he composed just one of the tunes on the album and instead concentrated on putting his own unique spin on songs from the Great American Songbook. The album also features a 19-piece orchestra, which is something he always wanted to do. He has been playing standards for many years, and he chose songs for WONDERFUL WORLD that he has always enjoyed. Standring says, “I chose these songs because I like them but also because they could be arranged for a full orchestra or a trio setting. I think there’s something magical about the sound of a guitar and orchestra playing together, but I won’t always be in situations where it’s possible to use an orchestra. So the arrangements had to be flexible enough to work in a trio setting.”

Standring wanted the album to be lush and sentimental, and he needed players who could capture the emotional tone he wanted and also navigate the subtle arrangements. He put together an all-star band that includes RANDY BRECKER on trumpet, PETER ERSKINE, HARVEY MASON, and DAVID KARASONY on drums, and CHUCK BERGHOFER, DAREK OLES, and GEOFF GASCOYNE on bass. All are top L.A.-based musicians except for Gascoyne, who is an old friend of Standring and still lives in England. Gascoyne wrote the string arrangements and helped Standring create the feel he wanted. Gascoyne also assembled and conducted the orchestra at the famed Abbey Road studios.

Also featured on one song is vocalist KATHRIN SHORR, an alternative-folk/pop singer who has recorded several CDs with her group Sweet Talk Radio. She and Standring released a CD of all original Christmas songs in 2011. Standring thought her smokey voice would be an excellent choice for “What a Wonderful World.”

Standring set out to make an album of music that was pared down to its essence. He wasn’t interested in pyrotechnics that would show off his considerable chops. Instead, he wanted to invite listeners in with open trio arrangements and lush orchestrations that would be nostalgic yet updated with a contemporary sensibility. Songs like “How Insensitive,” “Night & Day,” “Autumn In New York,” “Estate,” “What A Wonderful World,” “Green Dolphin Street,” “Alfie,” “Falling In Love With Love,” and “My Foolish Heart” are certainly well-known to jazz audiences, but Standring and company breathe new life into these chestnuts with a sentimental sweetness on WONDERFUL WORLD.

1. HOW INSENSITIVE 4:54

2. NIGHT & DAY 5:50

3. AUTUMN IN NEW YORK 4:49

4. ESTATE 4:43

5. WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD 4:47

6. GREEN DOLPHIN STREET 3:54

7. ALFIE 4:16

8. FALLING IN LOVE WITH LOVE 4:40

9. SUNRISE 4:55

10. MAXINE 4:30

11. MY FOOLISH HEART 3:40

CHRIS STANDRING  guitar

RANDY BRECKER  flugelhorn (9)

PETER ERSKINE  drums (1, 2, 3, 5, 8)

HARVEY MASON  drums (6, 9, 10)

DAVID KARASONY  drums  (4)

CHUCK BERGHOFER  bass (2, 3, 5, 8)

DAREK OLES  bass (6, 9, 10)

GEOFF GASCOYNE  bass (1, 4, 7, 11)

KATHRIN SHORR  vocal (5)

Arranged and Produced by CHRIS STANDRING

Orchestra arranged and conducted by GEOFF GASCOYNE  

Orchestra recorded at Abbey Road Studios

WONDERFUL WORLD will be available on CD, vinyl and digitally everywhere

PREORDER

John Proulx - Say It (ArtistShare 2018)

ACCLAIMED VOCALIST/PIANIST/COMPOSER JOHN PROULX RELEASES “SAY IT” ON ARTISTSHARE, MARCH 14, 2018

A lot of great things have happened in JOHN PROULX’s life. He recorded three albums on the MAXJAZZ label, played with some amazing musicians and toured extensively, making many friends and fans across the country. But after the owner of MAXJAZZ passed away and the catalogue was sold to Mack Avenue Records, Proulx decided it was time to expand his horizons and take his career along a new and exciting path. His newest project, called SAY IT, is the first album he’s produced independently.

Each of his albums have expressed a different time in his life and musical journey. His new CD reflects the depth of experience of a man in his early-40’s with a career in full-stride and a beautiful wife and two children. Proulx has always been a sensitive pianist, which is why he’s often busy working as an accompanist for other vocalists, and he exhibits his facility with different styles throughout the CD. He can swing hard or he can play with a gentle subtlety that melds beautifully with his lyrical, tenor voice.  

Proulx approaches lyrics with a lot of heart and empathy. But that isn’t to say he takes himself too seriously. That’s why he chose songs like Mose Allison’s sardonic “I Don’t Worry About a Thing” or Michael Franks’ “Scatsville,” in which he declaims, “My Eleventh Commandment: "Thou Shalt Not Scat!" (and then launches into an impressive scat solo). But even on tunes like Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now” or “The Summer Knows,” by Michel Legrand with lyrics by Marilyn & Alan Bergman, he sings with a wistfulness without a hint of worldweary disenchantment.  

The ten songs on this project are a mix of lesser-known jazz standards and jazz interpretations of pop songs by a diverse group of composers. Proulx chose these songs because they are beautifully constructed both melodically and lyrically. He knew that these mostly familiar songs would lend themselves to a fresh, new sound with updated, modern jazz arrangements. 

To help him shape his ideas, he brought on board his old friend JUDY WEXLER to produce the project. Wexler is a vocalist with four critically acclaimed CDs of her own and a mainstay on the Los Angeles jazz scene. 

Being a jazz musician based in Los Angeles has given Proulx the opportunity to play with some of the best musicians on the planet. Two legendary musicians, bassist CHUCK BERGHOFER and drummer JOE LaBARBERA, have appeared on all of Proulx’s previous CDs and join him once again on this recording. According to Proulx, “Chuck and Joe have been my musical bedrock. I love the way they inspire me to play and sing. I’m particularly close to Chuck, who’s really a father figure for me. I even dedicated a song to him, called “The Chuckster,” on my last CD.” 

Also joining Proulx are guitarist LARRY KOONSE and saxophonist BOB SHEPPARD. The two highly respected, indemand musicians, have also recorded with Proulx before. 

SAY IT also features a duet with Proulx and MELISSA MANCHESTER, the pop diva who’s been performing since the 1970s and has recorded 21 albums to date. The duo sings together on “Stained Glass,” a tune they cowrote. Proulx met Manchester five years ago when he was recommended by trombonist Bill Watrous as a substitute keyboard player for Manchester’s band. Proulx started subbing and eventually became her permanent keyboardist, regularly singing with her in live shows. “Stained Glass” is the second composition they co-wrote. They also co-wrote “Big Light” for Manchester’s album You Gotta Love the Life, which was performed as a duet with Manchester and Al Jarreau. 

Proulx has been a big fan of Grammy-winning pianist, composer, and arranger ALAN BROADBENT, whom he met while performing with Jane Monheit. Broadbent sent Proulx “The Last Goodbye,” a tune he wrote with lyricist Georgia Mancio. Proulx was blown away by the song and knew he had to record it on this CD, so he asked Broadbent to write a string arrangement for it, as well as for “The Summer Knows” and “Both Sides Now.” The lush string arrangements are performed by THE GINA KRONSTADT STRINGS. 

Proulx is a highly accomplished interpreter of standards. As a pianist, he has a sure sense of swing, which, combined with his warm, intimate voice, make for highly appealing renditions of tunes like “Gentle Rain,” “Something to Live For,” “Watch What Happens,” and “Say It.” 

As the saying goes “when one door closes another opens,” and that’s certainly been Proulx’s experience. He took advantage of being fully independent to explore who he is as an artist and then followed that path to create a CD of great warmth, affection, and sophistication. 

About John Proulx

John Proulx is a Grammy-winning composer. Jazz legend Nancy Wilson recorded "These Golden Years," a song that Proulx co-wrote with lyricist D. Channsin Berry, for her 2006 Grammy-winning CD, Turned to Blue. Besides performing as a leader, Proulx is also a busy sideman, and has performed with jazz luminaries such as Anita O'Day and Natalie Cole, and pop artist Melissa Manchester. 

In 2009, Proulx spent four months at the prestigious Feinstein’s at the Loews Regency hotel in New York City playing a nightly solo piano/vocal engagement.  Since then, John has appeared on Michael Feinstein’s radio show on NPR, “Song Travels,” as well as on Marian McPartland’s radio show, “Piano Jazz.” John recently moved back to Grand Rapids, Michigan to pursue a Master’s degree from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo. 

SAY IT will be available at ArtistShare.com and in stores and online everywhere on March 14, 2018.

1. Gentle Rain (4:26)

2. Scatsville (3:48)

3. The Summer Knows (4:12)

4. Watch What Happens (3:32)

5. Say It (4:53)

6. I Don’t Worry About a Thing (4:36)

7. The Last Goodbye (3:54)

8. Stained Glass (4:26)

9. Something to Live For (4:50)

10. Both Sides Now (4:43)

John Proulx  piano / vocals

Chuck Berghofer  bass

Joe LaBarbera drums

Larry Koonse  guitar

Bob Sheppard  tenor sax, soprano sax

Billy Hulting  auxiliary percussion

Melissa Manchester  guest vocals

Alan Broadbent  string quartet arrangements

The Gina Kronstadt Strings

Gina Kronstadt  1st violin, leader, contractor

Susan Chatman  2nd violin

Rodney Wurtz  viola

Stefanie Fife  cello

Arrangements by John Proulx

Produced by Judy Wexler

JOHN PROULX "Say It" from Marc Saltarelli on Vimeo.